The Kitsap Pumas have a chance to put their goal-less weekend far behind them when they host Washington Crossfire on Friday night at Bremerton Memorial Stadium. A Pumas victory would earn them the Puget Sound Derby trophy The Ruffneck Cup.

by David Falk

The inaugural Ruffneck Cup is more than just a trophy. It’s the awarding of 100 unique “2012 Ruffneck Champions” scarves, and also a $500 gift certificate for the winning players to use at their favorite local pub/eatery. www.RuffneckScarves.com and www.goalWA.net have brought this cup to life out of fan interest in honoring the derby that sees four Puget Sound sides compete in the same league.

Two wins over the Sounders U-23’s have Kitsap on the verge of clinching the Puget Sound Derby for 2012. (Jeff Halstead)

The Cup is awarded to the club that finishes with the most points in seven matches played against each other. The Kitsap Pumas are undefeated in Cup play, with a perfect 4-0-0 record and 12 standings points. If they can beat Washington Crossfire this Friday June 29th then they will have 15 points, more than Crossfire could earn the rest of the way, and as many as the Sounders U-23’s could earn if that club wins its last four. Even a Sounders-Pumas tie at the top still gives the Cup to Kitsap as they have already won the head-to-head season series.

Washington Crossfire is pushing for the division lead alongside the Pumas and certainly could put any Kitsap celebrations on hold. Crossfire currently have 9 points but have already played five matches.

The Pumas have some cushion, as they play two more Cup matches after Friday and could wrap up the prize during one of those matches as well.

The Ruffneck Cup trophy made its way across the Sound on Wednesday and will be at the match on Friday in case a winner is decided.

2012 Ruffneck Cup Standings

PTS

GF

GA

GD

1.

Kitsap Pumas (4 matches played)

12

11

2

+9

2.

Washington Crossfire (5 matches played)

9

7

7

0

3.

Sounders U23 (3 matches played)

3

3

6

-3

4.

North Sound SeaWolves FC (4 matches played)

0

3

9

-6

The race so far

North Sound and Crossfire have battled to three straight one-goal endings in Ruffneck Cup play. Washington won all three. (Wilson Tsoi)

The Kitsap Pumas have beaten the Sounders U-23’s twice, 3:1 and 3:0. They have also topped Washington 2:1 in Redmond and North Sound 3:0 in Edmonds. The Pumas are the only side with a positive goal differential in the table. See all results with match links here.

The hard-luck North Sound SeaWolves have played Washington Crossfire three times, resulting in three straight one-goal losses for the Edmonds club. The guys from Redmond have 1:0, 2:1 and 3:2 wins to their credit. The last match between the two was decided in the 89th minute.

The schedule fell in such a way that the Sounders U-23’s have only played three derby matches so far. They will catch up quickly as they play four more over the next two weeks.